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Tsunoda thinks he deserves to be Verstappen's teammate
Yuki Tsunoda thinks he deserves a chance at Red Bull Racing. The Japanese driver is aware of all the rumours and would find it only odd if Liam Lawson gets the chance at Red Bull. Indeed, Tsunoda himself believes that he is fit for making the next step within the Red Bull family.
There will be a moment of evaluation at Red Bull Racing during the summer. Then it will be seen whether Sergio Perez could keep his seat at Red Bull Racing and the drivers at Visa Cash App RB will also be looked at. Even Liam Lawson, the reserve driver of both Red Bull teams, will be tested extensively to possibly enter one of the teams. Tsunoda feels ready for a step up.
Tsunoda wants seat next to Verstappen
"If I'm not ready, I [wouldn’t have been] able to fully announce the next season, at least for VCARB. I’ve been feeling ready for the last three years to fight against the top teams, higher positions, even with Max [Verstappen] or whatever. But in the end, they're the ones who are going to decide and it's not the things I can control. So I'm just focusing on what I have to do at the next two races," Tsunoda stated when asked by GPblog.
Asked if Tsunoda thinks he deserves the move to Red Bull Racing as well, the resounding 'Yes!' is clear. ''Of course yes, otherwise they won't announce my seat [at VCARB] in the early stages in this year.'' Asking whether he should get a seat next to Max Verstappen gets the same answer: "Yes!''
Yet Tsunoda is not the name most commonly associated with Perez's seat. Daniel Ricciardo has been mentioned and even Liam Lawson's name has been dropped. Lawson also drove a film day for Red Bull Racing.
"If they choose Liam, that would be weird. But for me, at least, I don't think so. Liam did a really good job when he drove the previous year. I think I did more than that. We’ll see how it goes. They know how to manage the drivers."